[1] It was also the first season since 2008–09 without the club's record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who departed for Juventus in the summer of 2018, having won 15 trophies altogether since his debut.

After Zinedine Zidane's departure,[2][3] Madrid announced on 12 June 2018, that Julen Lopetegui would take over the head coaching position.

[11] The new La Liga season started with a 2–0 victory against Getafe four days later, with goals from Dani Carvajal and Gareth Bale.

[14] On the first day of the new month, a brace from Benzema and goals from Bale and Ramos secured Madrid three points in a 4–1 win over Leganés.

[16] Four days later, in the first match of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League group stage, Madrid defeated Roma 3–0 after goals from Bale, Isco and Mariano.

[26] On the last day of the month, Madrid took on UD Melilla in the Copa del Rey round of 32 first leg and won 4–0 after goals from Benzema, Asensio, Odriozola and Cristo González.

[28] Four days later, the return game at Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League ended with a 5–0 win, Benzema scored a brace and Bale, Casemiro and Toni Kroos each added one goal.

[34] The return leg of the Copa del Rey round of 32 tie against Melilla on 6 December 2018 was won 6–1, giving Madrid a 10–1 victory on aggregate.

[38] On 19 December 2018, the semi-final of the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup was won 3–1 against Kashima Antlers with a hat-trick from Bale.

[43] Goals from Ramos, Vázquez and Vinícius gave Madrid a 3–0 first leg win against Leganés on 9 January 2019 in the Copa del Rey round of 16.

[45] Despite a 0–1 loss in the second leg three days later, an aggregate 3–1 victory over Leganés secured Madrid a place in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.

[48] A brace from Ramos and goals by Vázquez and Benzema helped Madrid to get a 4–2 first leg home victory over Girona in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals of on 24 January.

[50] On 31 January, Madrid defeated Girona 3–1 away from home to close out the month and progress to the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a 7–3 aggregate victory.

[52] The first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Barcelona on 6 February ended with a 1–1 draw after Vázquez initially gave Madrid the lead.

[54] In the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against AFC Ajax on 13 February, Madrid came away with a 2–1 victory, with Benzema and Asensio scoring the goals.

[57] Three days later, Madrid was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Barcelona after a 0–3 second leg defeat, resulting in a 1–4 aggregate loss.

[59] Three days later, Madrid suffered a 1–4 home defeat in the return leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Ajax and was eliminated 3–5 on aggregate to end their 3–year European reign.

[63] On the last day of the month, goals from Isco, Ceballos and a late one from Benzema secured Madrid three points in a 3–2 win over Huesca.